thxfrthmmrs

If Astros are serious about resigning Cole, Greinke should be available via trade.

Are you saying even with Grandall, Ryu and a couple of pieces to round out the roster we’re not a wild card contender? Also, why are we giving reasons for why Ryu would sign elsewhere when the theme the last 20 pages is money talks?

Who’s gonna be better the next 2 years - Greinke or Wheeler? Ryu or Wheeler?

It's a minor factor, but one of the factors nonetheless. I think staying in close to home, doesn't have to face a DH (yet), playing for a team ready to win, in front of a rabid fan base all played a factor.

FWIW IL also has a higher state income tax than PA. So we do have to probably go 5/$130M to sway Wheeler's decision, with everything else considered.

I think even if we went 5/$125M it may not have been enough. Close to home, staying in NL, with a division he's familiar with. I don't fault them for losing this one.

Feel free to delete the last 10 pages of overreaction now.

He’s actually fully healthy now, two full years removed from TJS come next April, and no complications other than some shoulder soreness. He’d make a sneaky good signing on an incentive-based deal.

Colome?

He has been a starter the past 4 years, as crazy as that sounds. He's below average player for sure, but as it stands right now he's their 8th hitter, and you could do worse than having a 1.4 WAR player at that spot. If they land Didi, he's a great fit as a backup IF for them. I think the bigger question mark is Votto, because boy did father time hit him hard last year, and he's due for another 4/$100M

If Senzel comes near his ceiling and and Aquino is 80% of what he was last season, that's a good enough lineup. On the pitching side, they have 4 really good SPs, and Alex Wood would most likely resign as the 5th starter also.

Unfortunately the conversation WILL start with Robert. The closest comp to Hader is Chapman and in many ways he’s more valuable in that he’s truly a multi-inning closer, and he has a lot of control left. And if I’m not mistaken, at the time of trade Torres was already a mid season top 10 guy, or close to it. It was a huge overpay for half a season of Chapman, but for 4 years of Hader (even considering his likely unprecedented RP arb cost), that will be the starting price.

I have a feeling Wheeler negotiations will drag on for a while and hope the Sox are focused on adding their second starter in parallel, be it Wood, Gio, Roark, etc., while others are focused on the Big 3. Also, just selfishly speaking, we need another signing announced soon to keep the stove hot.

You could do worse than Keuchel as your 2nd SP addition after Wheeler.

Absorb Archer’s 2/$20M by trading prospects, or pay 2/$26M for Keuchel and no prospects? The answer is pretty easy on that one.

You’re not going to game the system this way, no one is going to trade a good controllable SP for Madrigal alone. Madrigal and Cease maybe. Also I think most of the controllable assets available in the trade market are position players, so there will be competitive bidding either way.

I dont know how anyone who follows baseball closely would post those numbers without questioning it. Here's the an FAQ of TJS on MLB.com How often do pitchers suffer another arm injury after having Tommy John surgery? "...Another recent study from the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) concluded that 19% of Tommy John patients will have a subsequent elbow surgery and 25% will have shoulder surgery." Can someone have Tommy John surgery twice? "Yes. There have been several studies recently on pitchers who have to undergo a second Tommy John surgery, often called a UCL Revision. Although still relatively uncommon, there seems to be an increase in the number of revisions over the past five years. Previous studies have shown only 2-4 percent of pitchers had revisions but more recent studies indicate an increase in that rate to 10-12 percent in Major League pitchers..." It would have been more believable if the average duration until the 2nd TJS is 4.5 years for those that actually required a revision. Also to put it in context, since the success rate of TJS in recent years is close to 80%, you're still more likely to have a failed first TJS than to require a revision surgery.

Caufield gonna be Caufield.

That tweet was from Shingo Takatsu’s uncle. Very possible he has legitimate source.

I don’t understand the notion of trotting out a 110 wRC+ bat at every position as the only way to build a team. If you could save $$ at RF (let’s be honest, none of the RF options are that great this year) to build up your bullpen or get another notable starter alongside Wheeler, you’d at least think on it. Pillar has averaged 2 WAR/year for the last 4 years and improves OF defense compares to many other RF options. And taking a closer look, I think you could even get him for 1/$6 or 2/$11, and if you could get him for cheap and pair with a offensive minded platoon, say Matt Joyce, there is a lot of surplus value right there. Plus, I think Pillar would have been the 8th or 9th hitter on the team anyways.

Had it not been for his fluky .218 BABIP he’d have had an .250/20HR and 2 WAR+ season. He’s another one I’d surprised to get non tendered. Bats both sides, plays multiple positions and draws walks, he’ll be a great fit.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/2019-non-tender-candidates-mlb-2019.html If we sign Wheeler, I would look at some non tendered players to fill out some holes. RF - Pillar 2/$15M 2B/Util - Profar 2/$9M SP - Tyler Anderson 1/$2M with $4M team option Though I have a hard time seeing Giants nontendering Anderson having just claimed him last month, nonetheless Pillar and Profar could be cheap, under the radar options.

For 2/$6M I'd bring him back.

Hot stove season and TDL is where wannabe insiders make names for themselves. Don’t fall for clickbaits again until the ink is dry.

Sox has learned to operate in stealth mode. If it’s leaked rumors, I don’t have as much confidence in them actually carrying through.